This is an essential programme for managers or members of staff (or students) who need to be able to read and summarise information on screen faster and more effectively. The session focuses on the different types of reading style and encourages better retention of written material through the use of specific speed-reading techniques. By the end of this programme participants will be able to: Explain the principles of speed reading Understand the barriers to reading Use different reading styles according to the information being read Read more effectively from tablet and computer screens Co-ordinate eye movements better Minimise any poor reading habits Increase reading speed by over 50%, without losing comprehension Improve retention of information using specific techniques The programme focuses on how to maximise reading from electronic devices by exploring techniques which will reduce eyestrain and improve reading effectiveness. The session also explains different types of reading styles and how to learn new, positive reading habits. 1 An introduction to speed reading The history of speed reading Assumptions about reading The process of reading Schema and its influence on interpretation Eye/brain relationship How our brain processes written information 2 Minimising barriers to reading Understanding eye tics Mouthing The influence of different light sources Body clocks and making use of natural patterns 3 Reading styles Importance of choosing the right reading style Speeds and their influence on retention Reading for pleasure Proof reading Scanning Skimming Reading for retention SQRW principles 4 Reading from electronic devices The challenge of reading from screens Importance of breaks and proper display screen evaluation Calibrating screens and background colours Formatting documents Using eye guides
Duration 1 Days 6 CPD hours This course is intended for This course is intended for anyone who wants to develop a toolbox of personal stress management skills. Overview Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to identify the best approach to handle a stressful situation; understand what lifestyle elements, routines and relaxation techniques can help reduce stress. In this course, students will apply a three-option method to address any stressful situation. Module One: Getting Started Workshop Objectives Pre-Assignment Pre-Test Action Plan Form Evaluation Form Module Two: Understanding Stress What is Stress? What is Eustress? Understanding the Triple ?A? Approach Practical Illustration Module Two Review Questions Module Three: Creating a Stress-Reducing Lifestyle Eating Properly Exercising Regularly Sleeping Well Practical Illustration Module Three Review Questions Module Four: Altering the Situation The First A Identifying Appropriate Situations Creating Effective Actions Practical Illustration Module Four Review Questions Module Five: Avoiding the Situation The Second A Identifying Appropriate Situations Creating Effective Actions Practical Illustration Module Five Review Questions Module Six: Accepting the Situation The Third A Identifying Appropriate Situations Creating Effective Actions Practical Illustration Module Six Review Questions Module Seven: Using Routines to Reduce Stress Planning Meals Organizing Chores Using a To-Do List Practical Illustration Module Seven: Review Questions Module Eight: Environmental Relaxation Techniques Finding a Sanctuary Using Music Seeing the Humor Practical Illustration Module Eight: Review Questions Module Nine: Physical Relaxation Techniques Soothing Stretches Deep Breathing Tensing and Relaxing1 Meditation1 Practical Illustration Module Nine: Review Questions Module Ten: Coping with Major Events Establishing a Support System Creating a Plan Knowing When to Seek Help Practical Illustration Module Ten: Review Questions Module Eleven: Our Challenge to You Creating a Stress Log Week One: Recording Events1 Week Two: Identifying Stressors and Creating a Plan1 Week Three: Creating New Habits Reviewing and Evaluating Practical Illustration Module Eleven: Review Questions Module Twelve: Wrapping Up Words from the Wise Lessons Learned
This ilm recognised programme builds on the coaching fundamentals to focus on enhancing the coach’s self-awareness and coaching techniques, refining both practice and skill to develop a coaching style of leadership.
Duration 3 Days 18 CPD hours This course is intended for The intended audience for this course is experienced web developers who are new to User Experience (UX) and Responsive Design principles. These professionals typically have a solid understanding of front-end development technologies such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript but seek to expand their skillset to create more user-centric, adaptable, and accessible web experiences. Roles that would benefit from this course include: Front-end Web Developers Full-stack Developers Web Designers Team Leads and Project Managers Freelance Web Developers Overview Working in a hands-on learning environment led by our expert UX coach, you'll learn to: Understand and apply UX principles and user-centered design processes: Participants will learn to identify the needs and preferences of users, create user personas, and apply UX best practices to develop intuitive, user-friendly web experiences. Design and implement responsive web layouts: Participants will gain the skills to create fluid grid layouts, use flexible images, and apply media queries to design web pages that adapt seamlessly across various devices and screen sizes. Optimize web performance for responsive designs: Participants will learn techniques to improve website performance, including image optimization, responsive images, and minification and concatenation of assets, ensuring a fast and smooth user experience across devices. Implement accessible web designs: Participants will understand the importance of accessibility in web design and learn to apply WCAG principles and accessible design patterns to create websites that are usable by a wide range of users, including those with disabilities. Collaborate effectively with designers, developers, and stakeholders: Participants will gain insights into design collaboration and handoff processes, enhancing their ability to communicate design decisions, provide and receive feedback, and work efficiently with team members and clients. In today's fast-paced digital world, user-centric and adaptable websites are no longer a luxury ? they're a necessity. By embracing UX and responsive design, you'll unlock the potential to elevate your websites, boosting user satisfaction and engagement. This, in turn, leads to higher conversion rates and a stronger online presence for your clients or organization, as well as better collaboration within your team, bridging the gap between designers, developers, and stakeholders.UX Design & Responsive Design for Experienced Web Developers is a three day, engaging hands-on workshop designed to equip you with the latest skills and best practices in User Experience (UX) and Responsive Web Design required to create seamless, user-friendly websites that adapt effortlessly across devices. This course will immerse you in the latest skills, best practices, and hands-on activities, empowering you to create exceptional, accessible websites that excel across devices and captivate users. Throughout the program you?ll explore the fundamentals of UX and responsive design, including user-centered design processes, mobile-first and desktop-first approaches, and design techniques for various devices and screen sizes. You'll gain practical experience creating responsive layouts, optimizing performance, and implementing accessible web designs, all while leveraging popular frameworks and design tools. You'll also gain valuable insights into performance optimization, accessibility, and collaboration strategies, ensuring you have the complete toolkit to excel in your field.By the end of this workshop, you?ll have gained a solid understanding of UX and responsive design principles, as well as hands-on experience in applying these concepts to real-world projects. You?ll be able to create more user-friendly, responsive, and accessible websites, and collaborate more effectively with your design and development teams. Introduction to UX and Responsive Design: Understanding User Experience What is UX? Importance of UX in web development UX principles and best practices User-centered design process Responsive Web Design Basics What is Responsive Web Design? Importance of Responsive Design in modern web development Fluid grid layout, flexible images, and media queries Hands-on Activity: Creating a Responsive Layout Designing a simple responsive layout using HTML, CSS, and media queries Breakdown and explanation of the code Testing responsiveness across different devices Mobile-first vs. Desktop-first Approaches Pros and cons of each approach Deciding which approach to use Designing for Different Devices and Screen Sizes Common breakpoints and device considerations Accessibility and usability across devices Typography, color, and other design elements in responsive design Hands-on Activity: Designing for Different Devices Modifying the previously created responsive layout to optimize for various devices Discussion and feedback on designs Advanced UX and Responsive Design Techniques: UX Research and Testing Importance of UX research Usability testing and user feedback A/B testing and heatmaps Navigation and Information Architecture Designing effective and user-friendly navigation Organizing content and information Common navigation patterns in responsive design Hands-on Activity: Designing Navigation for Responsive Websites Adding navigation elements to the previously created responsive layout Testing navigation on different devices and screen sizes Discussion and feedback on navigation designs Responsive Web Design Frameworks and Tools Overview of popular frameworks (Bootstrap, Foundation, etc.) Pros and cons of using frameworks Introduction to design tools (Sketch, Figma, Adobe XD) Hands-on Activity: Exploring Frameworks and Tools Experimenting with a chosen framework or design tool Redesigning the responsive layout using the selected framework/tool Sharing experiences and discussing the benefits and drawbacks UX and Responsive Design Best Practices: Design Patterns and UI Components Common design patterns in responsive web design Designing reusable UI components Consistency and usability in UI components Performance Optimization Importance of performance in responsive design Image optimization and responsive images Minification and concatenation of assets Hands-on Activity: Optimizing Performance (1.5 hours) Applying performance optimization techniques to the responsive layout Testing the improvements in performance Sharing results and discussing best practices Accessibility in UX and Responsive Design Importance of accessibility in web design Accessibility principles (WCAG) Accessible design patterns and techniques Hands-on Activity: Evaluating and Improving Accessibility Assessing the accessibility of the responsive layout Implementing accessibility improvements Testing and discussing the results Design Collaboration and Handoff Collaborating with designers, developers, and stakeholders Effective communication and documentation Design handoff tools and techniques Hands-on Activity: Simulating Design Handoff Participants will work in pairs to simulate a design handoff Reviewing, discussing, and providing feedback on each other's responsive layouts Sharing experiences and lessons learned
Today's administrative professional needs flexibility and a broad portfolio of skills including self-motivation, assertiveness, and the ability to deal with difficult people. You will benefit from this course if you are an administrator, medical/legal secretary or PA, who wants to enhance your administrative support skills, as well as evaluating your existing techniques. This course will help you identify: your areas of strength and your areas for improvement in the work environment ways to accept new challenges and responsibilities with confidence what motivates you at work techniques to improve your planning and time management ways of improving your influencing and assertiveness skills your preferred working style (and relate it to your interaction with others) ways of using your initiative how to deal with challenging people, using recognised communication methods The course will help you develop a flexible set of skills that will allow you to succeed at work, no matter what the day throws at you. It will help you communicate effectively with a diverse range of colleagues and others with tact and diplomacy. And, finally, it will help you provide the administrative support that is essential for the smooth running of your area and of the organisation as a whole. 1 Introduction Overview Introductions Individual objectives 2 What exactly is your role? Before looking at new skills and techniques, where are you now? Do you have the skills, knowledge and attitude required to be an exceptional administrator? Understand your job criteria Identifying your strengths and areas for development Activity - skills analysis Activity - action plan 3 Building trust How can you build trust? Understanding the links between reliability, consistency and trust What is required to deliver efficient service? Activity: efficient service requirements of the professional administrator 4 Working styles Identifying your working style preference Understanding the importance of a flexible approach Identifying areas of improvement to become a more effective team member Activity: Questionnaire (completing, scoring and charting) Activity: drawbacks of my style Developing your working style 5 Assertiveness Understand the differences between behaviours Activity: Definition and characteristics of assertive / aggressive / passive behaviour Activity: Identifying different behaviours Understanding how to be more assertive How to use assertiveness techniques How to ask for feedback Activity: Making requests assertively Activity: Refusing requests assertively 6 Time management The importance of planning for success The importance of managing interruptions The importance of having clear purpose Time management best practices Activity: How do you plan your time? What prevents you improving your time management? How will you recognise success? 7 Prioritisation How to prioritise work to meet deadlines The prioritisation matrix Activity: Post it! 8 Dealing with interruptions The impact interruptions have on productivity How to manage interruptions Activity: What interruptions do you experience? What tactics can be employed to reduce these interruptions? 9 Close Open forum Summary Action planning
Duration 1 Days 6 CPD hours This course is intended for This course is designed for all levels of experience in using Microsoft Project, as well as all levels of experience in project management. In particular, this course is designed for persons who need to author Microsoft Project work schedules including Project Managers and Project Assistants. Overview To be properly introduced, or reintroduced, to Microsoft Project. To gain an understanding of a proven mindset Microsoft Project users should possess each time they open and work Microsoft Project schedules. To gain an understanding of globally accepted project management principles. To be able to effectively apply Microsoft Project into the Initiation and Planning phases of a normal project life cycle. MS Project: Project Initiation and Planning (part 1 of a 3 part series) course provides proven tools and techniques for successfully using Microsoft Project to assist with managing projects. MS Project: Project Initiation and Planning (part 1 of a 3 part series) course provides proven tools and techniques for successfully using Microsoft Project to assist with managing projects.
Enjoy our outstanding blues singing courses for adults and develop the blues growl used by Bessie Smith, Big Bill Broonzy or Little Richard. Discover amazing vocal techniques that will make your blues feel authentic and enhance your vocal abilities under the tutoring of experts.
Agile project management, already widely used for software development, is increasingly recognised as having much more general application. Continuous improvement programmes, business change projects, new technology development, research and development and a variety of other scenarios characterised by rapid change and high uncertainty can all benefit from an Agile approach. This programme presents the concepts and methods of Agile project management, and shows how to apply them to a range of project and change management situations. Participants will learn: how Agile project management can help with project and change management the 4 values and 12 principles of the Agile 'manifesto' and the range of Agile methodologies how to apply Agile project management methods and techniques in a range of project scenarios alternative Agile project management methods and how they can be applied and adapted what makes Agile project teams succeed the key roles and responsibilities needed to enable Agile project teams to work effectively how to encourage an Agile mindset within their organisation and how to move toward an Agile approach to managing projects 1 Introduction to Agile project management Overview of 'classical' project management and methodologies The link between project success and management performance Limitations of classical approaches and the need for Agile methods The 4 values and 12 principles of the Agile manifesto explained Agile project management values:Individuals and interactions over processes and toolsWorking outputs over comprehensive documentationCustomer collaboration over contract negotiationResponding to change over following a plan The cultural challenges of using Agile project management Choosing when and how to adopt Agile project management 2 Initiating a project using Agile project management Some key Agile methodologies explained: SCRUM, XP, Crystal Identifying and engaging project stakeholders; defining roles and responsibilities Setting the project vision and goals; defining project scope The Agile approach to requirements capture and elicitation of needs Tools and techniques for capturing and characterising requirements The role of documentation, reporting and process management 3 The Agile approach to definition and planning Understanding Agile planning; the 'planning onion' concept Developing the culture needed for collaborative involvement and iterative planning Defining project deliverables; the 'product backlog' concept Tools and techniques for defining and prioritising requirements in Agile projects Understanding and applying Agile estimating techniques Dealing with uncertainty and managing risks 4 The Agile approach to execution and delivery The results orientated, fast adapting culture of Agile teams The monthly 'Sprint' process for project planning and review The disciplines needed for effective daily SCRUM meetings Reviewing progress, managing change and project reporting Testing, completing and handing over of work packages Managing the interface between the project team and the business 5 Leadership and teamwork in Agile project teams Why Agile teams are different: the importance of individuals and interactions The skills and attributes needed to lead an Agile project team The challenges faced and skills needed by Agile team members Recognising team development needs; adopting the right leadership style Making the transition from project manager to Agile coach Key coaching skills explored: mentoring, facilitating, managing conflict
A webinar about the simple stuff and how it can help get you through when everything else feels too tough.
Duration 2 Days 12 CPD hours This course is intended for Anyone with the need to understand how business analysis is performed to support agile projects or who must transition their existing business analysis skills and practices from waterfall to agile. Overview In this course, students will: Understand the fundamentals of agile delivery and agile business analysis Compare and contrast business analysis on waterfall and agile projects Explain the value proposition for agile product development Define the 4 main types of project life cycles Complete an in-depth walkthrough of the agile delivery life cycle Explain the major flavors of agile Understand the major standards available to assist in transition of skills Define business analysis tailoring and understand how to apply it Learn over 20 business analysis techniques commonly used on agile projects In this course, students will gain an understanding about agile business analysis. Students will learn how business analysis on an agile project is ?the same? and ?different? than business analysis performed on waterfall projects. Students will understand how the business analysis role changes on an agile team. A number of business analysis techniques suited for supporting agile teams will be introduced as will the various standards available to the community to help teams and organizations transition. Since few organizations are pure agile, students will also learn about delivery approaches that use a combination of practices from waterfall and agile and will also be introduced to the important concept of business analysis tailoring ? the key skill used to adapt business analysis skills to all environments ? regardless of the delivery life cycle selected. Introduction What is agile The Agile Manifesto Agile principles Agile benefits Hands-on activity Learning and course objectives The current state of agile Agile trends Agile skills Value proposition The business case for agile The BA role changes on an agile project Hands-on activity Understanding project life cycles Project life cycle Product life cycle Incremental versus Iterative Hybrid approaches to delivery Choosing a project life cycle An in-depth look at Agile The agile development life cycle A sequence of iterations Essential concepts Inside each iteration Iteration goal Iteration planning Sequence of tasks Work period Testing End of iteration activities Evaluation and feedback Structured walkthroughs Evaluation guidelines The BA role in structured walkthroughs Scripting scenarios Defect list Retrospectives Hands-on exercise Type of Agile Delivery Approaches The flavors of agile Scrum Scrum roles Extreme Programming (XP) Dynamic System Development Method (DSDM) Feature Driven Development (FDD) Testing Best practices used by FDD Kanban Kanban Boards Agile Unified Process Scaling Frameworks Introduction to Agile Business Analysis What is business analysis? What is agile business analysis? Framework for agile business analysis Business analysis components International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA©) Project Management Institute (PMI©) Context to business analysis Our industry BA standards Our industry Agile BA standards Product Owners What stays the same What is expected to change Agile requirements deliverables Lightweight documentation Requirements repository Where business analysis fits in The BA workload Hands-on exercise Business Analysis Tailoring Business analysis tailoring (defined) Tailoring considerations What tailoring looks like The PMI Guide to Business Analysis Determining the ?best? BA approach Methodology vs Standard Why use methodologies Determining your methodology Business analysis impacts Tools and techniques for agile business analysis Agile BA techniques Backlog refinements Behavior Driven Development (BDD) Burndown chart Collaborative games Definition of done Definition of ready INVEST Iteration planning Kanban board Minimum marketable features (MMF) Minimum viable product (MVP) MoSCoW Narrative writing Persona analysis Product roadmap Progressive Elaboration Prototyping Purpose alignment model Retrospectives Story slicing Hands-on Exercise Prioritization Techniques Requirements prioritization Prioritizing on agile projects Prioritization criteria Business benefit MoSCoW Pair-choice comparison Setting priorities with multi-voting Cost to acquire and operate Determining business value Story point estimating Planning poker Project velocity Hands-on activity Course wrap-up Making the transition to agile How my role will be different Course summary Retrospective Questions Additional course details: Nexus Humans BA08 - Agile for Business Analysts training program is a workshop that presents an invigorating mix of sessions, lessons, and masterclasses meticulously crafted to propel your learning expedition forward. This immersive bootcamp-style experience boasts interactive lectures, hands-on labs, and collaborative hackathons, all strategically designed to fortify fundamental concepts. Guided by seasoned coaches, each session offers priceless insights and practical skills crucial for honing your expertise. Whether you're stepping into the realm of professional skills or a seasoned professional, this comprehensive course ensures you're equipped with the knowledge and prowess necessary for success. While we feel this is the best course for the BA08 - Agile for Business Analysts course and one of our Top 10 we encourage you to read the course outline to make sure it is the right content for you. Additionally, private sessions, closed classes or dedicated events are available both live online and at our training centres in Dublin and London, as well as at your offices anywhere in the UK, Ireland or across EMEA.